Secret Agent 23 Skidoo is entering 2014 with both a new album and a book, complete with audio CD companion. The Book, Weirdo Calhoun and the Odd Men Out is the story of a boy named Sean who wasn’t Sean very long (because he was quickly dubbed Weirdo Calhoun). Weirdo liked doing things his own way regardless of weather or not it made him popular or cool and his unwillingness to fit the mold inspired others.

The book has that Dr. Seuss type prose that makes it enjoyable to roll off the tongue. It also helps that the book comes with a CD companion that features a Hip Hop Version, a Bluegrass Version, and a Bedtime Story Version. Each of these versions also come with a Karaoke track. I thought it was a pretty cool inclusion that made the book a lot more fun.

Illustration is goofy in a humorous way and the story is an outrageously off the wall tale that lets kids imaginations run wild while guiding them through one of the pitfalls of youth, acceptance. Sometimes you just have to go with your heart and gut and be yourself.